iWorld
ReDefine’s India expansion continues with the launch of its sixth studio in Trivandrum
Mumbai: ReDefine, a global VFX and animation boutique, has announced the launch of its sixth studio in India, located in Trivandrum. Launching the latest studio in India marks a significant step in the company’s continued expansion in the region and is part of ReDefine’s vision of redefining the art of VFX and Animation. The new studio will create exciting job prospects for professionals in the field while elevating the VFX and Animation industry with high-quality content. With its state-of-the-art infrastructure, the new studio in Trivandrum will enable ReDefine to cater to the growing demand for VFX and Animation services, both domestically and internationally.
Increased usage of OTT and new streaming platforms has led to a rise in demand for content; this new location will be vital to the company’s mission to provide world-class visual effects and animation services to its global clientele.
The studio will be led by a senior group of artists and technicians, who will collaborate with the company’s global teams to bring long-form animated episodic work and special projects to life.
“At ReDefine, we are constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the world of VFX and animation,” said ReDefine managing director Rohan Desai. “We have more projects on our plate than ever before, and our new office in Trivandrum is set to play a significant role in our global network of studios. This exciting expansion will bring our clients’ imaginative ideas to life and further solidify our reputation as a leading player in the industry. With this new move, the company is poised for even greater success in the years to come.”
Speaking on the launch of the new office, ReDefine CG head Manu PK said, “We’re thrilled to tap into Trivandrum’s talent pool and provide opportunities for artists and technicians. Our talented team, combined with the wealth of creative talent in the region, will allow us to produce animated content like never before. The growing demand for premium content presents a huge opportunity for us, and we are confident that our Trivandrum studio will be a major boon in our global network of studios.”
Speaking on the launch, ReDefine Trivandrum VFX head Sajeer Abdul Salam said, “I’m thrilled to be part of our new VFX office and to showcase our exceptional visual effects to an even wider range of projects and clients. Our team is dedicated to pushing the limits of what’s possible, delivering outstanding results and setting new standards of excellence in the VFX industry. We work closely with clients to bring their visions to life, leveraging cutting-edge techniques and state-of-the-art technology to stay ahead of the curve. Together, we’re well-positioned for even greater achievements, and I’m eager to see the incredible projects we’ll create.”
iWorld
Meta plans 8,000 layoffs in new AI-led restructuring wave
First phase from May 20 may cut 10 per cent workforce amid AI pivot.
MUMBAI: At Meta, the future may be artificial but the cuts are very real. The social media giant is reportedly preparing a fresh round of layoffs, with an initial wave expected to impact around 8,000 employees as it doubles down on its artificial intelligence ambitions. According to a Reuters report, the first phase of job cuts is slated to begin on May 20, targeting roughly 10 per cent of Meta’s global workforce. With nearly 79,000 employees on its rolls as of December 31, the move marks one of the company’s most significant workforce reductions in recent years.
And this may only be the beginning. Sources indicate that additional layoffs are being planned for the second half of the year, although the scale and timing remain fluid, likely to be shaped by how Meta’s AI capabilities evolve in the coming months. Earlier reports had suggested that total cuts in 2026 could reach 20 per cent or more of its workforce.
The restructuring comes as chief executive Mark Zuckerberg continues to steer the company towards an AI-first operating model, committing hundreds of billions of dollars to the transition. Internally, this shift is already visible: teams within Reality Labs have been reorganised, engineers have been moved into a newly formed Applied AI unit, and a Meta Small Business division has been created to align with broader structural changes.
The trend is hardly isolated. Across the tech sector, companies are trimming headcount while investing aggressively in automation. Amazon, for instance, has reportedly cut around 30,000 corporate roles nearly 10 per cent of its white-collar workforce citing efficiency gains driven by AI. Data from Layoffs.fyi shows over 73,000 tech employees have already lost jobs this year, compared with 153,000 in all of 2024.
For Meta, the move echoes its earlier “year of efficiency” in 2022–23, when about 21,000 roles were eliminated amid slowing growth and market pressures. This time, however, the backdrop is different. The company is financially stronger, generating over $200 billion in revenue and $60 billion in profit last year, with shares up 3.68 per cent year-to-date though still below last summer’s peak.
That contrast underlines the shift underway. These layoffs are less about survival and more about reinvention. As Meta restructures itself around AI from autonomous coding agents to advanced machine learning systems, the question is no longer whether the company will change, but how many roles will be left unchanged when it does.
